Climate Change: Forecasting the Future of Global Warming

Most people agree that the long-term effects of globalmeant using the cheapest industrial equipment available
warming will be disastrous for the planet and itsand hence causing a great deal of pollution. However, it
inhabitants. But predicting the exact future impact it willis possible that these countries will decide to put an
have is a very complex task. Those who makeemphasis on preventing global warming and embrace
predictions about its long-term effects are not likely togreener technologies.
do so with one hundred percent accuracy.Increases in world population increase the likelihood of
Some of the difficulties inherent in forecasting futureglobal warming. Statisticians can make educated
effects of global warming have to do with those sameguesses as to how much the world population will
factors that make it hard for meteorologists to predictincrease, but a number of factors play a part in
the weather correctly on a day-to-day basis. Windspopulation growth dynamics. These factors include
can cool the air or warm it depending on the directionbiological ones, governmental policies, and global
they take. Cloud cover can cool a hot day. Air masseseconomics.
move and cause storms as cool fronts and warmCars make a huge contribution to greenhoue gases at
fronts collide. Ocean currents can change thethe present time. Cars with greater fuel efficiency
temperature of the land on which they strike. Thecould cut those emissions, and they have already been
earth's atmosphere is constantly in a cycle ofdeveloped. Research continues to improve their
evaporation and precipitation. As ice melts in the Polarperformance. There is a question, though, as to
Regions due to global warming, the oceanwhether the people of the world will embrace these
temperatures are affected. Evaporation rates are invehicles. A high initial cost will probably prevent poor
flux. The courses and speeds of ocean currentspeople from having a hybrid or other fuel efficient
cannot be predicted with accuracy. This hard-tovehicles. The extent to which this technology is made
predict web of weather and global warming are aavailable to people from lower income brackets will
series of interrelated events, many of them difficult toaffect how much greenhouse gas emissions can be
forsee.cut by their use.
The task of predicting the future impact of globalWhile it is nearly impossible to predict the future of
warming is made more difficult since the actions ofglobal warming with complete accuracy, it is a subject
people to prevent or expediate it are unknown.worthy of consideration. By being able to accurately
Currently there is a strong trend of underdevelopedestimate the damage it will cause, there is more
nations striving for modernization. In the past this hasmotivation to try to stop it.